From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Failure of a Bentley silencer baffle, suggesting an explosion as the cause.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 131\2\ scan0204 | |
| Date | 17th June 1938 | |
| From RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}/SB{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}/GTH.{G. T. Houlistan} 1113 RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}/SB{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}/GTH.{G. T. Houlistan}1/MC.17.6.38. RE SILENCER BAFFLE - BENTLEY After examination of the baffle referred to in Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}18/N.10.6.38., we cannot agree with the conclusion that insufficient rivetting was the cause of failure. It is assumed that the rivets must still be intact in the silencer as the rivetted portion has been torn out of the baffle. The appearance of the baffle at the weld points would indicate that metal had penetrated through to the silencer shell giving a satisfactory bond. We have never known a similar case in the past and can only suggest that the damage was caused by an explosion in the silencer. This appears to be confirmed from the distorted condition of the baffle. RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}/G.T.Houliston. | ||